Manchester City are heading for a major cultural change under Enzo Maresca, with the new manager ready to do away with the captaincy selection method put in place by Pep Guardiola. The Italian is planning to personally appoint the club’s next captain after Bernardo Silva’s high-profile move to Real Madrid.

The end of Guardiola’s voting system

For most of the past decade, Manchester City’s leadership order was decided by the players themselves. Guardiola had long allowed the squad to vote for their captain, a democratic approach that led to figures such as Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne taking charge of the side.

The opening at the top of the leadership group has come after Silva joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this summer. Last season, Guardiola had already made a slight adjustment to his own approach by selecting a four-man leadership group himself, made up of Silva, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Rodri. Although Dias remains one of the leading candidates to wear the armband on a permanent basis, the wider structure of the leadership group is now being reassessed.

Foden and the push for homegrown leadership

According to The Athletic, one of Maresca’s key aims is to make sure there is a strong English presence at the heart of the leadership group. That has created an opportunity for Phil Foden to move into an official role, with the 26-year-old academy product now one of the most senior members of the squad after a series of departures.

Speaking last week about wanting to take on greater responsibility, Foden said: 'Obviously I have been in the club for so long, I am one of the last remaining players to have been here for a long time. So I think I have to be this season, one of the leaders, one of the captains or in and around it for sure.'

Possible reshuffle amid uncertainty over Rodri

The leadership gap could grow even bigger because of continuing uncertainty over Rodri’s future. The Spain midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, who recently saw a £38 million offer plus add-ons turned down by the Etihad club.

To help cover any possible gap, Marc Guehi is another player under consideration for a bigger role. Even though he only arrived at the club in January from Crystal Palace, the centre-back came with notable leadership credentials. Guehi captained the Eagles for 18 months and has also worn the armband for the England national team.

Building a new culture at the Etihad

Manchester City are entering a significant new phase after Guardiola’s departure, bringing his celebrated 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium to a close. During the Spaniard’s time in charge, the club enjoyed unmatched success, winning six Premier League titles and a historic UEFA Champions League crown, along with a long list of other trophies. City are now aiming to build on that outstanding legacy while shaping a new identity of their own.

Maresca, who took over this summer, is intent on taking City back to the summit of English football after they failed to win the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons. After a successful spell in which he led Chelsea to Club World Cup triumph in the summer of 2025, the Italian is keen to stamp his own authority on the squad, and personally choosing the club’s next captain is set to be one of his first major strategic calls.